Randy Newman (born November 28, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his distinctive voice, mordant and often satirical pop songs, and for film scores.
Since the 1980’s, Newman has worked mostly as a film composer…..with his film scores including Ragtime, Awakenings, The Natural, Leatherheads, Cats Don’t Dance, Meet the Parents, Cold Turkey and Seabiscuit…..who has scored eight Disney-Pixar animated films including Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Cars, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, and Cars 3….as well as Disney’s The Princess and the Frog and James and the Giant Peach.
Newman has received twenty Academy Award nominations in the Best Original Score and Best Original Song categories and has won twice in the latter category. He has also won three Emmys, seven Grammy Awards, and the Governor’s Award from the Recording Academy.
Newman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002 for classics such as “Short People“…. and as a Disney Legend in 2007. Newman was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2013.
“Short People“ is a song by Randy Newman from his 1977 album, Little Criminals.
The verses and chorus are lyrically constructed as a prejudiced attack on short people. In contrast, the bridge states that “short people are just the same as you and I.” Newman interprets the song to be about prejudice as was widely thought, but added, “The guy in that song is crazy. He was not to be believed.”….as with many of his songs such as “Rednecks”…..Newman wrote the song from the point of view of a biased narrator. Like Dire Straits‘ 1985 hit single, “Money for Nothing”, which used the same lyrical technique, the song was misunderstood by many listeners who wrongly assumed that it reflected Newman’s personal viewpoint.
